Not-So-Merry Men Abound in this VeggieTales Video About Hurt Feelings

What do you do when it feels like you're being neglected and rejected? That's something kids face a lot as those around them misunderstand them or simply aren't attuned to them, and it's the subject of Christian children's company Big Idea's latest computer-animated VeggieTales video, Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men.

The video begins, as most do, with a countertop scene. This one finds Larry the Cucumber distraught because his hamster has abandoned him. Meanwhile, Bob the Tomato opens a message from a young viewer who is battling hurt feelings of his own, and he deems it a good time for a couple of stories.

The first tale is fairly short and told all in rhyme, recalling such previous segments as The Story of Flibber-O-Loo and The Snoodle's Tale, but this one is set in a contemporary world rather than a fantastical realm inspired by Dr. Seuss. Junior Asparagus, here a kid named Lenny, is turning eight.  This time, his character has an energetic little sister by the name of Libbie, which amused me since that is the name of one of my best friends. Also amusing me was a random reference to Abraham Lincoln, my favorite president.

Lenny, however, is not amused in this tale, and that's because it seems everyone has forgotten his birthday. He spends the day in an agony of mopeyness waiting for just one person to say something about his special day. What's going on? This is a cute story that contains a sweet song of reassurance by Lenny's mom and a twist at the end that is both fun and educational.

Of course, it's also a bit of a downer for most of it because it's just Lenny feeling sorry for himself and keeping all his angst bottled up. The takeaway message is that even when you're having a terrible day, God is still there for you, and that should bring comfort. However, another message kids might glean is that instead of stewing silently over having been slighted, they should address their problems openly.

Granted, when someone is ignoring your birthday, you don't want to say anything because you hope that eventually, they will remember, and it doesn't really count if you told them. But generally speaking, "failure to communicate" can contribute to all sorts of hurt feelings. As a fundamentally non-confrontational person, this is something I have struggled with myself. Expressing myself openly has never been my strong suit, and as with Junior, that reluctance to speak up has led to unnecessary anxiety and confusion.

The main story is a parody of Robin Hood, territory VeggieTales has touched before in the shorter segment on Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson's Hairbrush. However, that was only a brief sojourn. Here we've got a full-blown tale in which Robin Good, played by Larry, leads his band of Not-So-Merry Men by waylaying travelers in the forest and soliciting funds from them to redistribute to the poorest in the kingdom of Bethlingham. When donations run almost dry, his buddies rebel and turn to thievery instead, something Robin refuses to do. He's got scruples, but he's also got a lot of resentment bubbling up inside him. Can he overcome it to help a friend in need? The message here is about the same as in the first, with an added theme that making other people feel better tends to make you feel better yourself.

This is an enjoyable twist on familiar characters. I love the setting, the different take on the usually sinister Sherriff (played here by Bob) and the bits of zany humor, particularly a discussion between Robin and the Sherriff that is reminiscent of Abbott and Costello's "Who's On First?" routine and a series of rather groan-worthy ham puns. The tale includes mostly music along the same lines as Mom Asparagus's lullaby, which is nice, though the one that got my attention the most was the peppy duet between Robin and the corrupt prince, played by frequent antagonist Mr. Nezzer in one of his meaner incarnations. It's a fun and ultimately encouraging story, but again, because we spend so much time with Robin, and later the Sherriff, moping, it's not quite as upbeat as most of these videos tend to be.

Between stories we've got the traditional Silly Song, which is another offering by Boyz in the Sink, the boy band made up of Larry, Junior, Mr. Lunt and Jimmy Gourd. This song has a radio-ready feel to it similar to their previous offerings, a very distinct sound from most of the Silly Songs. What we get is an ode to bubble wrap, an item that just tends to make people grin. Yes, it's good packing material, and they're using it because the band members are getting some fancy new digs and are settling in, but it's best known for just being fun to pop. The novelty never seems to wear off. I actually saw this song quite a while ago, since Big Idea posted it on YouTube well in advance of the video; I like it, and the subject makes me smile, though it hasn't really stuck in my brain the way my favorites like The Hairbrush Song and I Love My Lips have.

All told, it's a solid video, and I think the Robin Hood story makes a great framework. It wasn't really the lesson I would have expected to go with that tale, but it works well. At the same time, the humor isn't quite as pronounced in this video as usual because the main characters spend so much time down in the dumps. The message is also a bit heavy-handed, with the same words about God being bigger than any hurt being repeated multiple times. Still, for children going through that sense of isolation, that might be just the reassurance they need.